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Mosquito and Tick Prevention

Mosquitoes and ticks are more than just a nuisance in the summer. These pests carry diseases that cause illness and, in some cases, can be serious.

It is important to be aware of these insects and the hazards they pose in Maryland. Luckily, there are solutions available to protect you, your family, and even your pets. Read on to find out more.

Mosquitoes

The Old Line State is host to 59 species of mosquitoes. The three species health officials are most concerned about include:

Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus): First found in Baltimore in 1987, this mosquito’s range extends to all Maryland counties except Allegany and Garrett. They are usually active during daylight hours and breed in small pools of water around houses, such as in containers, pots, rain barrels, birdbaths, and gutters. Black with white stripes, this easily identifiable mosquito transmits heartworm disease in dogs. It is also a known carrier of the Zika virus.

Common House Mosquito (Culex pipiens): Active at night, this mosquito is a carrier of West Nile virus, a disease that affects the nervous system.

Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti ): As the name implies, it transmits Yellow Fever, Zika, which is still a problem in Maryland, and Dengue viruses.

Ticks

Ticks carry Lyme disease and officials are saying 2017 may be the worst year in history for them here. The Centers for Disease Control note that the Northeast, with its many forested areas, has “basically turned into Lyme factories, spilling over with infected ticks.”

You don’t even need to go into the forest to contract the disease. An epidemiologist with the CDC reminds people that they can catch Lyme disease around their own home: “People out gardening. People playing in their backyard. Mowing the lawn.”

What to do

Homeowners should take precautions and eliminate these insects and the breeding grounds from their property. Absolute can perform a thorough inspection of your lawn, garden, and outdoor spaces to identify areas where mosquitoes and ticks hide and breed. Our experts will find areas where water may accumulate, and reveal hiding places ticks prefer such as wooded or heavy foliage areas.

Applying a mosquito and tick spray not only helps eradicate existing insects, but also stop them from breeding. Being lawn care professionals, we’re especially savvy when it comes to treating shrubs, bushes, and other areas prone to retaining moisture. Remember, mosquito eggs require as little as a bottle cap full of water to turn into larvae within 24 to 48 hours.

Absolute Landscape & Turf offers spraying services for mosquitoes and ticks. Click here for your free estimate, we’re happy to help make your outdoor living area safer and pest-free.